A logo for a health centre of excellence

ABOUT NHCN HEALTH CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

The Need

The current provision of health services in the community are constrained by a series of infrastructure limitations, not the least of which are the aging facilities and inadequate resources.


These conditions negatively impact the community’s access to primary and acute care services. Exacerbated by a high prevalence of chronic diseases, local economic challenges and rugged natural geography, the need for a renewal of health infrastructure has been critical. The planned Health Centre of Excellence will improve health services, advance sustainable health delivery and improve the health of residents in the Norway House region.

The Vision

The new Health Centre of Excellence will help foster Norway House Cree Nation’s (NHCN) vision of a healthy community, with enhanced programs and services and new economic opportunities for its members, while maintaining a strong spiritual connection to its heritage, land, culture and people.

The new Health Centre of Excellence infrastructure has been designed in a manner that will provide the community with a state-of-the-art medical facility that will address the health and wellness needs of the community for decades to come.


From day one, NHCN’s goal was to establish a fully-integrated Health Centre of Excellence that would bring all of the community-based services into one building.


Norway House Cree Nation has a growing population and with that, comes growing health needs. By placing a facility in the community, we now have the ability to address these health issues, which will go a long way to meeting the social, physical, mental and spiritual needs of our community members.


Project History

Historically, there have been a number of challenges with the health care infrastructure in Norway House. It is currently home to the oldest federally-owned and operated hospital in the country.


Currently, the infrastructure is serving the health and wellness needs of the community, but we have now reached a point where the health programs and services have far outgrown the infrastructure. Patients often have to be transported to places like Winnipeg and Thompson to access the necessary services.



Previous planning studies undertaken by NHCN Health Division have also guided the panning process for this new Health Centre of Excellence and include the following:

  • Norway House Cree Nation Integrated Health Centre: Conceptual Space Program (February 2005)
  • Norway House Health Integration Initiative: Master Service Plan (September 2005)
  • Norway House Hospital and Primary Health Centre: Functional Program (May 2007)


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